It was 1959 when the people of the area learned the town was to have a bus station.

Up to that point buses had departed from Regent Street, both sides of the street, and also outside the Regent Theatre in Lancaster Road.

For many years prior to 1959 the present bus station site was a field that contained the old YMCA building. A hedge lined the pavement in Lancaster Road from Appleton House to the Salvation Army Citadel.

Early in 1959 the townspeople were able to see a plan of the new proposed bus station. It showed that it would lie between the Salvation Army Citadel, and the western boundary of Dr Murray’s garden (he lived and had his surgery at Appleton House) and would stretch back as far as Brunel Road.

There would also be an access road from Rugby Road. It had not originally been planned to have a car park adjoining the bus station, but during the work on the site, a temporary car park had been in operation. It had been put to good use by the motoring public and was therefore being retained.

The new bus station opened on September 30, 1960. At the time of the opening there were nine loading bays, each with its own shelter and car parking for 130 vehicles.

The Hinckley Urban District Council was eventually going to provide all the facilities associated with a bus station, such as booking office, cafeteria, waiting rooms and public conveniences.

When the bus station was new W ell, as we know, all that we got was the public conveniences and they were closed some years ago.

In 1960 it was said that 4,500 buses would use the new station each week. The Midland Red would be the biggest operator with over 3,000 departures each week.

Robinsons of Burbage, Browns of Sapcote, Black and White Coaches, and Halls of Coventry were the other firms running regular services from Lancaster Road.

The official opening was performed by Mr C. R. Hodgson, chairman of East Midland Traffic Commissioners.

Many other dignitaries were present, including councillor W. K. Wileman, chairman of the Hinckley Urban District Council.

Among those present was Mr Mark Hinton, of Welbeck Avenue, Burbage, who had been driver of the first double-decker to leave Hinckley in 1916.

Mr Hinton recalled how, that at the bottom of Shilton Hill, he often had to ask passengers to dismount, as the engine was not powerful enough to carry them to the top.

After the ceremony a Midland Red double-decker bus took the dignitaries for a short trip through the town.

Later a reception was held at St. Mary’s Hall.

It cost £18,099 to prepare the site of the bus station and £5,670 for the shelters and public conveniences.

Traffic lights were to be erected at the Regent Street crossroad, but the council had to take its turn in the queue of authorities wanting traffic lights. Only two firms in the country specialised in this type of work. It was expected that by the end of the year thework would be done.

Now the bus station, as we know it today, is to be transformed into a superstore, and a state-of-the-art bus station.

I can’t help but remember we were going to have all the refinements of a modern bus station in 1960. As they say up North, ‘it’s best to say nowt, until it happens